It is a bizarre thought, something that hadn’t really dawned on me. Then someone considerably younger then me made a comment that he was wondering how many places he has already been for the last time. He is only 30 years old! I was baffled that such a thing had entered his mind.
When you go somewhere rarely do you think “this may be the last time I am ever here.” The older you get, the more likely you are to consider such a possibility, but for the most part we humans have a tendency to expect things to always continue as they are, not realizing how precious that visit may be.
Think about places you remember with fondness, or maybe even with some sadness. When you were there did it occur to you that it was the last time you would be there? Maybe it did, maybe it didn’t. When you start rolling that thought around in your head you realize how important it is to cherish every single moment of everything you do, because it may be the last time.
My grandparents house – my great-grandfather had built it when my grandmother was only six years old. I grew up going to that house for visits with my grandparents and other family members. After my grandfather passed, my grandmother continued to reside there until she was well into her 80’s. I eventually got married, had children and took them to visit their great-grandmother in that house. The last time I was inside the house the family was preparing for an estate sale following my grandmother’s death. I can’t remember the last time I visited my grandmother in her house because one day she became ill, went to the hospital and then into assisted living, where she remained until she passed at age 94. While the property was still in the family I would from time-to-time stop and walk around the outside of house and around the yard and barns, taking a few photos. I knew it was for sale and had been for some time, but even then it never occurred to me that I might be walking on that property for the last time. Eventually the house sold and my impromptu visits ended.
Cedar Point — a very popular amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. I used to love attending amusement parks, and we always went to one as part of our family vacations when our kids lived at home. We sometimes attended them even without kids. Then I was in a bad accident and ended up with severe vertigo. I won’t go on amusement park rides ever again as I am fearful that the rapid movement of the rides might bring back the vertigo. My favorite rides were always the fast spinning ones like the spider, swings, Himalaya, and other similar rides. The last time I visited an amusement park or rode a ride it never occurred to me it would be the last time.
Scrapbook Memories in Chelsea, Michigan – This was a huge scrapbook store that held 3-day crops several times a year. My best friend, and I would meet there and attend the 3-day crops. It was a wonderful time and something we did year after year. Then one day we received notice that the owner had decided to leave the business and move out of state. No one purchased the store and it closed. Lots of memories of fun times in that store.
There are other places as well, my parent’s home where I was raised from the time I was in 1st grade until I got married and moved away. My in-laws home that holds lots of fun memories. The house my husband and I built in 1983 and then sold in 2004. I’m sure if I sat and thought there are many others. Will I ever go back to Disney World? Will I someday get back to Hawaii? When I was there years ago I assumed I would someday return, but in reality, will I ever?
Cherish the time you have at each place you visit, be it on a regular basis or only on occasion. You never know when circumstances will make it the last time.
What are the places you have been for the last time?
--- LIFE IS A MELTING POT --- Grace Grogan...Writer, Photographer 